Scotty McCreery sets October release date for new album

Scotty McCreery's "See You Tonight" is to be released on Oct. 15. UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP NASHVILLE

Scotty McCreery's "See You Tonight" is to be released on Oct. 15. UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP NASHVILLE

Arguably the most famous sophomore at N.C. State University will be releasing his sophomore album in October.

Scotty McCreery, the “American Idol” winner from Garner, co-wrote five of the 13 songs on “See You Tonight.” The album will be available Oct. 15, with preorders starting Sept. 3.

McCreery’s debut, “Clear As Day,” went platinum (selling more than 1 million copies) after being released in October 2011. It debuted atop both the Billboard Top 200 and Top Country Album charts.

He technically had a second album, “Christmas with Scotty McCreery,” which debuted last October at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 chart. But it was mostly holiday classics, so “See You Tonight,” with all-new material, is being considered his sophomore album. McCreery said he wanted to find the right mix. “While ... I had a platinum record and won awards and sold out shows, I didn’t have that big radio hit,” he told The N&O last year. “I’ve really got to take my time with finding songs and making sure they’re the right songs for this record.”

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Some of those songs he found through his own songwriting, which he’s been working to hone in the past year. He shares co-writing credits on the songs “Now,” “Something More,” “Can You Feel It,” “I Don’t Wanna Be Your Friend” and the title track, “See You Tonight.”

He released the “See You Tonight” single this year and performed the song on a return trip to “Idol.”

It peaked at No. 28 on the country singles chart. The song was re-released and given a new commercial push this month. It was No. 77 on the iTunes country chart Wednesday.

Beyond promoting his music, McCreery, who will turn 20 this fall, is a dedicated member of the Wolfpack nation.

Last Saturday, he performed at N.C. State’s “Packapalooza” festival on Hillsborough Street. He also took part in last weekend’s Jimmy V Celebrity Golf Classic.

And in October, he’ll once again perform two shows at the N.C. State Fair. The shows are Oct. 21 and 22. Tickets are $25 and are available at www.ncstatefair.org